Flash lamp



Dec. 10, 1929. HlPWELL 1,738,725 I FLASH LAMP Filed April 19. 1928 Patented Dec. 1%, 1929 HARRY T. HIPWELL, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA;

FLASH LAMP Application filed April 19,

My invention relates to lamps and more particularly to what are commonly designated as flash lamps which involve the employment of dry cells and a filament lamp mounted in a casing, together with suitable circuit-controlling lneans.

One object of my invention is to provide a flash lamp having an improved form of cover orncap for the casing which contains the dry 1 Ce S- l 0 Another object of my invention is to pro vide a lamp structure wherein the retaining spring for holding the dry cells in place and for grounding the electrical circuit serves also to perform other functions.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form of connection between the cap and the casing. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved form of suspending device on the cap whereby the lamp may be hung upon a hook or other support.

Still another object of my invention is to generally simplify and improve lamp structures of the character referred to.

Some of the forms which my invention may take are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp with the suspending device in open or upright position; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the suspending device in closed position; Fig. 4: is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of the structure of Fig. 1, with the suspending device partially open; Fig. 5 is a similar view, but showing the suspending device closed; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a modified form of connection between the cap member and the casing, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the cap member of Fig. 6 removed from the casing.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, I show a casing 8, which may be of somewhat the'usual form,

carrying a lens 9 and a suitable lamp bulb (not shown). A cap 10 has screw-threaded connection with the casing 8 to render it conveniently detachable for permitting replacement and removal of the dry cells 12 (Fig. 50.5) in the usual manner.

1928. Serial No. 271,170. I

A spring 11 seats at its outer end within the cap 10 and at its inner end bears against the outer terminal of the dry cell 12, to serve as a ground connection for the cell and to hold thecells against rattling'movement within the cas1ng. V

A suspending member 13' is provided with integrally-formed tongues at its edge, one of said tongues being bentto form a knuckle or eye 1% throughwhich one end of the spring 11 projects, to form a hinge joint,so that the member 13will have pivotal movement upon the cap 10. lhis connection also serves to retain the spring in position in the cap 10, since the knuckle 14 projects through an opening in one corner of the cap; The other, tongue 15 is bent to lip form to serve as a catch or snap fastening when the member 13 i is folded against the cap, as shown in Fig. 5. When the member 13 is folded, it will. displace the endturnof the spring 11 slightly to compress the same radially, and thereby cause the catch 15 to be yieldably held in snug I engagement with the rim of the-casing, thus producing a snap action without the necessity of flexing the catch 15. I i I The suspending member 13 is cut out, as

shown at '16 so that when opened, it may be readily hung upon a hook or a button, the reduced portion of the cut-out portion serving to prevent accidental displacement from button or other hook-like support. The cas ing 10 has a raised portion 17 about which the cut-out'portion 16 of the suspending mem ber13 fits when the lip is closed, as shown in Fig. 3, thus securely holding the member 13 against displacement radially when it is closed. Q 'ii In Figsl6 and 7 I show a structure wherein the cap 10 is of slightly different form than the cap 10, particularly with respect to the manner'in which connection is efiected with the casing 8% Instead of having screwthreaded connection with the casing, the cap 10 is provided with bayonet slots 19, which, whenthe cap is placed in position and turnedslightly, interlock with pins 20 that are mounted in the sides of the casing. The closed ends of the slots are notched slightly to provide seats for the pins20. The spring I 11, in addition to serving as a hinge mountcap and said cell, a suspending member pivotally supported by said spring, and means for efl'ecting deflection of said spring from its normally operative position upon movement of said suspending member to a given position. a

2. Flash lamp structure comprising a casing and a battery cell, a cap for the casing, a compression spring interposed between the cap and said cell, a suspending member disi posed exteriorly of the cap but having a portion extending to the interior of the cap I and pivotally supported by the said spring,

and, means for efiecting deflection of said spring from its normally operative position upon movement of said suspending member to a givenposition. a p

3. Flash lamp structure comprising a casing and a battery cell, a cap for the casing,

ing and battery cells, a'cap for the casing, V

a compression spring interposed between the cap and said cells, and means disposed exteriorly of the cap but having a portion extending to the interior thereof, the said portion having connection with the spring to hold it in secured relation to the ca In testimony whereof I, the sai HARRY T. HIPWELL have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY T. HIPWELL.

a compression spring interposed between the cap'and said cell, means in conjunction with said spring forutilizing said spring to hold the cap in position upon the casing, a suspending' member, a pivotal connection be tween said suspending member and the sprlng, and means for efiectlng deflection of said spring from its normally operative position upon movement of said suspending member to a given position. 1 i

4. Flash lampstructure comprising a cas ing and battery cells, a cap for the'casing, a compression spring interposed between the cap and said cells and having one end fitting within the cap, a suspending member disposed exteriorly of the cap but having a portion extending into the cap and in pivotal connection with said spring, and a catch at one edge of the suspending member for engaging a corner of the cap, that portion of the spring to which the suspending member is connected being of such diameter that it is distorteddiametrically when the suspending member is moved to folded position,

through camming engagement of the said" catch with the cap.

5. Flash lamp structure comprising a casing and battery cells, a cap for the casing,

acompression spring interposed between the cap and said cells, a suspending'member disposed exteriorly-of the cap, and a connection etween said suspendin member and the said spring for holding t e spring in secured relation tothe cap.

6. Flash lamp structure comprising a cas- 

